Let's Talk with Leaha & Rhonda

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This is a que un the studio's original program. The following is a paid program sponsored by Crawford management group and smart time consultants. Please be advised that the voices and opinions you hear do not represent the views of 91.5 Jazz and more the University of Nevada Las Vegas or the Board of Regents of Nevada System of Higher Education.

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Hi, my name is Leah Crawford.

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And I'm Rhonda Nolan.

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And you're listening to the let's talk with Leah and Rhonda show for all the beautiful entrepreneurs

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out there. This is for you. Good morning. Las Vegas. Leah. How are you doing on this fine Saturday morning. Hey, y'all,

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she back.

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Welcome back. Rhonda. I missed you. I missed you. Oh, my God was we uh, West West stepped it for you. He did. And he was co hosting with me the past couple of weeks.

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That's fantastic. was how did you do? Did you have fun? Yes, of course. He was blessed. It's

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absolutely amazing. So thank you, Wes. But I am so happy to have you.

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Thank you. It's great to be back. How are you? I'm doing I'm doing pretty good hanging in there. Doing

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pretty good. So I'm pretty good. I send prayers. We send prayers and love from the valley. To you and your family. Thank

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you very much. I appreciate that.

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Yeah. Anything good you got going on any cooking classes coming up? Because I wanna hit that first. Oh, we

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got a whole lot of stuff coming up in community. First, let's talk about the links Incorporated, Las Vegas, Nevada. They're having the black family Wellness Expo on Saturday, March 16. At the Martin Luther King Jr. Senior Center from 10am to 2pm. There's going to be a whole lot of things going on for the whole family there's going to be a mammogram truck. We're going to have AIDS testing we're going to have all just different types of health nothing

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Nikki in the step toes it's gonna

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be they're gonna be they're gonna step exercise. Yeah, we're so excited the community is gonna come out. We want to make sure for those who don't have great health care services that we bring the services to the people. So if you are available on the 16th you know the black family Wellness Expo by the links incorporated Las Vegas chapter. Also the 100 black man is having their annual cooking class for the month

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of March cooking class.

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cooking class is taking place on Tuesday, March 26. You can sign up your junior chef@eventbrite.com Let's see what else is going on. Oh, rebel fest is happening on Thursday March 28. On the campus right here at UNLV by the Student Union going to be some fantastic musical acts out in the courtyard performing and the D nine will be performing so the D nine is performing D nine is performance so come check out the students here at UNLV for rep fest 2024 On Thursday the 28th

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I've even seen some odd odors yeah town lately be probably the whole D nine so it is gonna be fun it's a good thing all the ladies and gentlemen and good people have that's gonna be a good time. You gotta remind me Ron, because you know, I know I forget. Okay, our van general Miami but I want to talk we have a guest in the studio. So I met this woman I did a presentation for scholarships solutions. And we're going to bring Rhea on the show to talk about, you know, getting money to go to school because she specialized in the debt free college experience. But Rhea Rhea did this woman's group. And in this woman's group, she had us you know, just she brought people in that specialized in different things. And we poured into a group of women on a Saturday morning. And they had me there at eight o'clock and I was on time. At eight I was I was it Saturday morning. I'm gonna say it Saturday morning at eight but I met this woman in the services that she provides. It's stuff that we are hesitant to think about because we talk about wills trust the state. And we bring attorneys on and but this woman does it in a different way where the family is involved and you can document the legacy so that you're not guessing what's going on. You know, you can document it. So Dr. Francis Richards you know, welcome to the show.

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Thank you, Leah and Rhonda, I am so happy to be here.

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I am happy to thank you for accepting our invitation to come and talk to our listeners about what you do and the impact that it can have on a family. One of family. So first of all, Dr. Richard Tory

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Oh, Dr. Francis Richards I'm first the glam MA and I am amazing. I have three amazing grandchildren. So shout out to them. He

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claps claps today. Yes, yes, yes. Smash that for that right boy. I like the glam because I was one with Gigi. But oh glamour, Glamour, Glamour. Yes, that's me. And

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so I'm president and CEO of Arlene Richards media company. And I'm also the host and founder of Black entrepreneur Experience podcast. Okay. All

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right. All right. So with who you are, what do you do talk to us about the your company.

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So Arlene Richards media company, what we do is we do family audio legacies, and we record your health history. We also record your history in a celebratory fashion. So a lot of individuals would like to erase our history. So this is an opportunity for you to preserve your history, and audio and video, and

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you get to tell your story, tell your story, and not someone else tell you what's

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right for you. That's right. And what we also do is work with individuals with early stage Alzheimer's and dementia, we capture their story before they lose their memory. And so we say that we give you a peace of mind because we also do documentation and asset inventory. So in the we come into your home, and we take all inventory of all of your personal assets, in the unlikely event that you are burglarized. So we say we give you a peace of mind by actually documenting your assets. But we also preserve a piece of your mind by capturing your legacy and your story so that it'll live on for generation to generation. Okay,

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so you're listening to the less awkwardly and Rhonda show. I am Lea Crawford. I'm

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Rhonda Nolan. And we are here today with Dr. Francis Richards. And I love the program you have because Alzheimer's is affecting so many more seniors as we move on in life, but having document documenting all of their assets is fabulous. Because one of the things that happens when you have Alzheimer's, people start saying you stole my fists, you stole my that? And you're like, No, I so it's either. It's here, it was just moved. My grandmother suffered from dementia. And and she always said people took her things and and she got a little feisty, feisty as well. That's right, she got a little feisty towards the end of all the dementia. And you know, she didn't like you. She'd put you out of your out of her house and all kinds of stuff.

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So you find out because you might have thought she liked you for 30 years. You you find out what she has. She didn't like she didn't like okay, you can like me. Because a lot of times it's the grandchildren. Okay, because I was one of those grandchildren. I was like, you really that's how you feel. Okay, so

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she put our kids out. And then they would call me and say can you come deal with us?

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I would have always one. There's always one that she Oh, you know, I didn't mean to say that. Right? Like, well, I didn't say that. I don't remember.

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So I had to fly into town and live in a tent, right? coaxed her down, like, okay, you know, they have to come in to help you. You know, so you can't put them out? Can't pull them

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out, right? I gotta help you know, you can't put a nurse out. Why did you start the business though?

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The media company has been around for 11 years. And so as I indicated, I am a podcast host. And so we do have black entrepreneur Experience podcast where we interview the most successful black entrepreneurs across the diasporas. And we're in year seven. So we have about 89,000 unique listeners. One of the reasons I started the media company because it was to amplify and ensure visibility was to diverse and emerging entrepreneurs that looked just like me. So that's the reason I started the media company. Why I started doing family audio Legacy Recordings was based on my husband of 29 years, nine months, passed away two years ago. And we didn't have any children together. But we had bonus children. And so I saw this as a way of healing and bringing the family together. And I thought, we have videos of him. But I thought, wouldn't it be amazing if he actually told his story in his voice? And so we didn't get that opportunity. But I believe the Lord has dropped that in my spirit to preserve your story, and a person's legacy through family audio Legacy Recordings of

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the Goddess. I mean, so basically, it was a point of pain. It really was and healing journey. And part of your healing journey is to help other people. So potentially they don't feel the same pain because death is painful yesterday. That is painful, no matter if you're prepared for it if you're watching, but that day it actually happens. It's you know, it's it's just different. You never can prepare for it.

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Yeah. All right. So

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I can say if you want to get in touch the numbers 70278100697027810069

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And if you want to check out her website, it's www. Dr. Francis Richard's dot com. That's www drfrancsrichards.com. Right?

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And Francis is spelled with an E. So just remember, just remember to name but what I can say is we want to give the numbers again, but we want to talk more to Dr. Francis. I mean, just a really, just let's let us go dig in and go a little bit deeper. So you started it point a pain media company. Were you always in media?

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Yes. So my first degree is in broadcasting radio and television, my bat masters in and doctorate is in business. And I always say jokingly, Oprah had. She has my job and my money. Love, love, love Oprah. So yes, started in broadcasting and was with multiple stations in Las Vegas, as well as San Francisco. So Oh, so you've done so you did the bay did the bay by way of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, I have to shout out the Packers in in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, by way of Marquette University after I graduated, I moved to the Bay. I was actually I'm going to date myself,

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but we're used to were you in Oakland, where are you going to San Francisco.

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I actually lived in Oakland and San Francisco and Castro Valley. Okay. And so I'm learning a lot about the need to go to the bank, the bay. Oh, gosh, the bay is amazing. But I say that I'm dating myself. Because after I graduated from college, and my mom was like, What do you want for graduation gift? And I was like, a one way ticket out of here. Because it was like a negative 13 degrees. And I never Milwaukee Milwaukee

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i Yeah, yeah. Because Milwaukee is on Lake Michigan. It

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is yeah, I do understand. I used to live in Chicago. And I worked in well, my territory was Milwaukee. So I had to travel to Milwaukee quite frequently. And one of my good friends is from there. So I do understand getting away from the minus 13 minus

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13. And they talk about lake effect snow and then Lake freeze. And and it's just cold. Yeah, I

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had a couple friends that went to Marquette University. Do they undergraduate and graduate degrees there? Yeah.

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So amazing university.

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Okay. All right. So with the What have you found to be the biggest challenge, though, in getting people to even understand what you do? Is it just, I mean, when when people contact you, I think

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the biggest thing is they when they think about legacy, they think about no one wants to plan their estate. And but I take it from a position of storytelling, because that's exactly what we do. And so I think that most people, they get it once we talk about this as your story in your voice and leaving a legacy in your words. And so I think that's the hardest part was people thinking it's the end when you say legacy, but when I talk about memories and sharing stories, people can embrace it.

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Memories, as you'll see it because everybody wants to tell their story. That's right. Everybody wants to tell their story. And

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not only everyone wants to tell their story, we all have a story. Hmm. That's the that's the key. And I think that's what I want people to leave with. You have a story, I have a story. And it's interesting when we think about from a perspective, a mother, daughter, grandmother, how you perceive me is differently on how I perceive you. And one of the my secret sauce is actually in asking questions, and really pulling that story out of you. And so you might think you're coming to the storytelling session, telling one story, but the Bible says out of the mouth, your heart speaks. Once you start really sharing your story, something else comes up. And I always tell individuals before they start that journey on storytelling, just bring something with you. And I'm and so it's a story around why did you pick that item out of your house to bring with you most of the depending on where you're located most of our interviews we come to you because we want you to be in the comfort of your own home. And it's really about you telling your story, leaving your legacy so that your family can see it's not going to be in a studio, it's going to be in your personal environment. Okay? So

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if it's if it's in their personal environment, then it's not them bringing something but if you do it outside, bring something from your home. But if you're in your home, I guess it's a different start point for the interview.

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Even when, like when we were going to the home, we're still saying grab some grab something, grab something. So So

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what if somebody is affording just a couch full of stuff? Okay, Eric, I

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discussed. It's

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one item causing you to think it's like tell us why you grab that like maybe you grab I handkerchief or maybe you grab a ring. Why did you grab that? When I said just bring, and I also tell them, like they will bring pitchers because we incorporate pitchers in their story afterwards as we're editing and putting it together. And it's interesting. The pitchers like why did you pick that pitcher? for that? Yeah,

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I feel the emotion that's, that's the most Do you find that you get a lot of tears? A lot of because you're asking somebody to be vulnerable? Absolutely. While they're going through this process?

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Absolutely. Absolutely. And that's what I'm saying. It's the story. And so even I will say, so it depends on the person. So I'm feeling your energy. And so I might say, tell me something about your grandchild. And you start talking about your direct grandchild that you end up talking about your husband or something. And so we're taking you on a journey, and we just let the journey be natural. And that's the key, because you want your story to be authentic. And when your family is listening to this story, months and years and years, decades, yes, yes. It's like, wow, I can feel what Mama was saying or grandmama was saying, and I think about when I do even families coming together telling their story. And I do multiple, not just individuals, I've done coupled and multiple. So it's interesting to hear your perspective, you might have thought as a parent, you were disciplining me. But as a child, I thought that you were mean.

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Yes. Okay. So

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now when a person signs up to do this, is it one sitting or is it more than one sitting? It's one sitting, it's one sitting at this one

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sitting? Okay, so you're listening to the Les talk with Leah. And let's talk quickly and Rhonda, because I'm getting emotional. I'm Lea Crawford, Rhonda

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Nolan, and we are here with you this beautiful Saturday morning. So

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I'm trying to think about how we're gonna get this done. Because honestly, I think it would be good to document instead of waiting until then, but to Document Document one time in your 30s document once I'm in your 40s, right, and talk about your transition because I think a lot of times your story gets lost, because there's so much stuff that's going on. And even though you only hit highlights, but your descendants need to know. So

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and that brings me to this movie on Hulu called black cake. And black cake. The young lady did justice what she said she left a audio story of her life so that her children would know. Because her life was a little complicated. So she didn't exactly tell them everything that went on. But before she died, she left this audio, talking about everything that happened in her life and why she made the choices she made. And it brought her children together. And she she made it and gave it to the lawyer and said once I pass, bring the children together and let them hear this, it's called black cake. Executive producer is Oprah Winfrey. And it's on Hulu. No, but

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that's when you say that because I think about even in my life, I've journaled my whole life. And one time, I went back and read some of the journals, and when I was 20 years old, in DC, in my 20s in DC, and the things that I wanted to accomplish, and I was like, Oh, I can check some of that stuff off now. But some of the stuff I'm like, I don't know what I was thinking. For, right? Because you want to leave, you want to leave a story because I think a lot of times when we go back, you know, because we steal a lot of oral stuff. We can't believe document we know who they were probably did they mourn in the date that they died. Because I know my great grandmother was good at keeping obituaries. And I was looking for the obituaries because it documented all the people prior to her. But I'm like we need to have more than just the obituary because that's somebody else telling the story. Absolutely.

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And, and something that you said in reference to as you age, and what I'm finding, and I'm in the process of doing research around Alzheimer's and the brain. And there are so many African Americans that is suffering with Alzheimer's and dementia. And what's happening is the fact that because we don't get involved in a lot of clinical trials, and for historical reasons, and the medicines and stuff is not made for our bodies, but we basically suffer in silence with Alzheimer's and dementia because we're like, oh, that's just mama that's just grandma. She just forgot even Though we're that's my husband, you're seeing signs, but you're in denial. And it's so important that when you take notice that you don't stay in silence, but that you get help. But so

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many people are in silos too. So they live in the silo, they disconnected from family, they disconnected from friends. So it causes them to suffer in silence. And they might interact, maybe going to the grocery store, maybe no, but they're home all day alone. And you know, it's a real issue. real issues.

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So if you're in that situation, I would say, try to reconnect with someone or something. But another thing I'm noticing even people that are not living in silo, they are living in silo because they are blocking people out of their lives. And they're in denial. They're not sharing their health history, even with husbands and wives. And that's a part of abuse. It's mental abuse, when you are withholding information, and you think, because you can't deal with it, or you think they can't deal with it. Or maybe you've had challenges in your marriage, and you whatever, you try to empower yourself by withholding that information. But in the long run, you're just hurting just a lot of people. So I would say communicate if you communication, but it's if in fact, you sense that your experience memory loss, seek help,

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seek help. Alright, so Dr. Francis Richards telephone number 702-781-0069. Again, 702-781-0069.

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And you can check her website out and it gives all the information of all the services she offers at www. Dr. FRANCESRICHAR D s.com. Or time run that is www DRFRANCE s r i c h a r d s.com? Well, I can

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say, I do want to say one thing before I ask you one more question before we have to go. Happy Founders Day to the soul wars Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated theta theta omega chapter. Today we are celebrating our Founders Day. And sorrows happy Founders Day. We are over 116 years of service. So all mankind and my soul or Dr. Francis Richards, it's a pleasure to have you on the show this morning. Talking about what you do. And it seems like you have a passion for this. This is basically not just a business. It's a passion. And that makes a difference. That makes a huge difference. And how can I ask this? In doing this? Do you find that sometimes you get emotional when doing these interviews?

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Absolutely, and emotional. Only from the standpoint I am emotional in terms of passionate about the work that I'm doing. And it hits home in a lot of different areas. And I think about shout out to my mom who's will be 96 in March, march, march 15 day before my birthday,

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the 1460 She's 16 Well, this

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is interesting. My birthday is March 13. My first grandchild is March 14, my mom's birthday is March and

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good girlfriend birthdays.

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Shout out to all my Pisces Yeah, happy birthday to us. Yes, yeah. So it

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is it is and it's a passion project. And I just see the value of history. And when I see the younger generation, pushing away from the older, they are going to want to know that story and that person. And so it is about healing. And so I see it as a closure. Thank you to heal. Thank you

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Do you have a lot of people who have been adopted to come to you for your services?

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I'm not yet experienced an adoption yet. I do get a lot with individuals that have migrated from they were in other countries and they've come to the States and so they want to preserve their history to ensure that their family is carrying on those traditions in other countries.

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I appreciate that. Well

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because that health is important because you know knowing your lineage and knowing your forefathers before you and kind of what ailments they had

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are part is though healthcare wasn't as robust as it is now. Right so and I know in a lot of communities you know they don't they just don't go to doctors. And now like for me I think I want to document it so you know, I want to document I want you all to know exactly what was going on and what was the process for us to get to where we are now and shots out well first of all, I want to say shots out to again, muscle or is this Founders Day Happy Founders Day. Rhonda. I know the Lynx event is coming up. That's all my birthday and it is my birthday month. So it is my birthday. My all gifts.

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dinners. All gifts, lunch

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lunches, dinners. Yes. Yes and 70238257377023825737 I will be around town celebrating my birthday. Next year we will have the fabulous stellar birthday because I hit a milestone Mark next year. Is that right? Next year? Yes, it is. That we will have we're gonna we're gonna have a ball we're

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doing big again. Like we gonna.

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Dress will take about a year to find. Find me a pretty dress. So weird. To dress

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you wear that again? No, you ride you gotta get

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I gotta find someplace the way that we're take that dress apart and do something different. Right. That is the end of our show. Uh, but let's go back to the announcement. First of all, Dr. Richards. Thank you. Thank you for accepting the invitation. Thank you for coming on the show. I think what you offer is amazing. And I look forward to bringing you back on to have more conversations about it for our listeners.

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Thank you. Thank Thank you. All right. All

Unknown Speaker 26:42
right, Ron, uh, one more time cooking show what's going on?

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The cooking show, not

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the cooking show the cooking. It is a cooking show. Because it's a whole show. It's a whole production that goes into watching these babies on zoom that don't follow that. But don't follow directions.

Unknown Speaker 26:59
You missed it. We had chef Jeff left. And we had a student that came on 30 minutes late. Oh, we're already halfway finished. And then they asked me back questions. And he was so patient with them. And he answered their questions. And he brought them up to speed of where the rest of the class was.

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What did y'all what did y'all prepare this month, we

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had Creel bake salmon,

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and I missed really nice. Nice to hear if you're listening, we are going back to the cooking class. Because actually he is getting better in the kitchen. So I want to say thank you. Because even outside of the class, just being able to follow instructions, understand the importance of cleaning as you go right. And just little things. So I want to say thank you because that's a skill that they don't teach in school anymore. So they don't that you are taking this on. How many students are you allowed to have on a class?

Unknown Speaker 27:56
Is this many, you know, I top it off at 100. Okay, that's 100 that top it off? Okay, that's a lot of shopping. That's

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a lot of shopping. Because I'm gonna tell you all again, she, they, they supply the food, we supply the food, they supply the food, they supply the food. So yes, we are signing up. I'm telling you I'm signed up please on me.

Unknown Speaker 28:13
Okay, share with me. What anyway, Las Vegas. Thanks for listening to Let's Talk with Lee and Rhonda.

Unknown Speaker 28:17
I'm Lea Croft.

Unknown Speaker 28:18
I'm Rhonda Nolan. Have a fantastic weekend and we'll see you next week.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai